BASEBALL: NOTEBOOK

BASEBALL: NOTEBOOK; Mets' Reyes Is a Maybe for Opening Day

By LEE JENKINS

Published: March 16, 2004

VERO BEACH, Fla., March 15—
The pain in José Reyes's strained right hamstring subsided somewhat Monday, but the Mets said they were still uncertain whether Reyes would be able to play opening day in Atlanta on April 6.

Reyes had a magnetic resonance imaging exam on Monday afternoon to determine the severity of the strain he sustained in the first inning of an exhibition game against Minnesota on Sunday. Results will not be available until Tuesday.

The Mets said they were at least confident, however, that Reyes, their starting second baseman, would not miss much of the first month of the season. Because Reyes was able to walk comfortably Monday and showed significant improvement, General Manager Jim Duquette said Reyes did not have a Grade 3 strain, which would have put him out for six weeks.

''I feel better,'' said Reyes, who had strained the hamstring twice before. ''Yesterday, I felt pain when I sat down. Today, I don't.''

While Reyes recuperates, Joe McEwing will take over at second base, but the Mets' lack of depth in the middle of the infield has been exposed. Kazuo Matsui, who lacerated his right middle finger on Feb. 29, played his first exhibition game at shortstop on Monday. The injuries to Reyes and Matsui have underscored the Mets' potential need to acquire another infielder.

''That was an area we were looking for and have been looking for,'' Duquette said. ''A backup emergency guy.''

Garcia Fires Back at Martínez

When outfielder Karim Garcia showed up at the Mets' spring training complex on Monday, he was promptly informed about comments made by Boston pitcher Pedro Martínez on ESPN.

Last year, when Garcia was playing for the Yankees, Martínez hit him with a fastball during Game 3 of the American League Championship Series. Garcia responded by yelling at Martínez, who waited until spring training to shout back.

''Who is Karim Garcia?'' Martinez told ESPN. ''I have no respect for that guy. I don't have anything to prove to that guy. He needs to be forcing himself to come up to my level. You talk about guys like Derek Jeter, Bernie Williams, Paul O'Neill -- guys like that you really tip your hat. But guys like Karim Garcia -- for what? Who are you? Who are you, Karim Garcia, to try to tell Pedro Martínez, a proven player for 10 years?''

Garcia responded: ''Who said I have respect for Pedro Martínez in the first place? If that floats his boat, fine with me. He's thinking about me, and I don't even play in the American League anymore. He pitched two games in the playoffs and lost two games. I guess he should be thinking about it a long time.''

Garcia and Martínez came up together in the Los Angeles Dodgers organization but were never friends. ''He was there, I was there,'' Garcia said. ''Did I talk to him? No.''

Against the Dodgers here on Monday, Garcia hit a home run, but the Mets lost, 11-9.

Matsui Comes Through

In his first game at shortstop, Kazuo Matsui made two plays and recorded two hits, including a double down the right-field line and a home run to left. A young fan traded Matsui the home run ball for an autographed ball.

''To be honest, I was a little nervous at first,'' Matsui said. ''It was a special atmosphere, a special feeling.''